Spunky Songbird Mocks Grocery Store Rescuers

APOPKA — A mockingbird that had grown fat and sassy eating produce for four days at a grocery store eluded the nets and good wishes of rescuers who tried Thursday to set it free.

Bird lovers were hoping another rescue attempt overnight would be more successful.

The songbird has been trapped inside the Albertsons on State Road 436 since Monday. Store director Milt Ayers believes a cat chased the bird through the front door. The cat was escorted out the same day, but Ayers has found it hasn't been easy to coax the mockingbird back to the wild.

Although store employees have tried to shoo the bird out the door, it took a liking to aisle 17, where it can feast on an abundance of fresh fruit. The bird has been especially partial to grapes.

Doris Mager, Central Florida's Eagle Lady, and Wes Biggs of the Florida Audubon Society were called in at 8 a.m. Thursday to lend their expertise to the relocation.

While Biggs and Ayers stood on top of grocery carts to hoist a net up to the 30-foot-high ceiling, Mager and store employees ran around the aisles clapping and whistling to lure the bird into the trap.

The 20-foot-long net was moved throughout the store while the bird played cat and mouse flying over, under and around its sides. Shoppers corralled their carts near the checkout stand to spot the mockingbird and encourage the bird catchers.

''It's not going to be easy,'' Mager said. ''It seems like the bird has set up house here. He's obviously spunky and getting plenty of nourishment.''

Mager, whose Apopka home is a refuge for injured birds, said she gets about 20 calls a year to help extricate birds from stores, barns and garages. She said the mockingbird, Florida's state bird, and house sparrows often get caught inside buildings because they like to be around people.

Normally, birds trapped inside buildings are easy to catch because they weaken from lack of food, Biggs said. He said the mockingbird was in no danger in the store and could live indefinitely on the fruit.

The rescue attempt was called off after an hour, when Mager and Biggs decided the bird would never rest long enough to be netted because the fluorescent lights have disrupted its sleeping schedule.

They planned to return early today with more nets and trappers, turn out the store lights and try again.